Ear-drum.



PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

F. B. GOULTBR.

BAR DRUM.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 6, .1905.

' I avwewtoz FE. Cou/fef,

rut norm/s PETERS cm, wasnmarau, a. c:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

FRANK E. COULTER, OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

EAR-DRUM- No. 837,196. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 27, 1906. Application filed November 6,1905. Serial No. 286,111. I

T aZZ whom it may c n rn: the like and which is adapted to conform to Be it known that I, FRANK E. CoULTER, a the shape or contour of the ear in which it is citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux to be placed. These holders are prefer- Falls, in the county of Minnehaha and State ably molded froma wax impression taken of 5 of South Dakota, have invented certain new the car, so that they fit the latter perfectly and useful Improvements in Ear-Drums; and will not be liable to fall out. To retain and I .do declare the following to be a full, them more effectively in position, I may emclear, and exact description of the invention, ploy a curved spring 11, which is adapted to such as will enable others skilled in the art to fit behind the ear and to have one of its ends which it appertains to make and use the attached to the body 2, as shown at 12. This same. spring 11 may be covered with a tube or cov- My invention relates to improvements in ering of rubber or other suitable material 13, ear-drums or devices for facilitating the hearso as to form a cushion and also to insulate ing of deaf persons. the spring when the same is utilized as a It consists in the construction, combinaconductor with the electrical attachment tion, and arrangement of devices hereinafter shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This elecdescribed and claimed. trical attachment comprises a suitable elec- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 tric or galvanic battery or generator 14, is a perspective view of my improved earwhich may be readily carried in ones pocket, 7 5 drum, showing the means for holding the insulated electric wires or conductors 15, an same in the ear. Fig. 2 is a vertical -secelectric switch 16, and electrodes 17. The tional view through the parts shown in Fig. latter may be of any desired form and con- 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the earstruction and are secured to the central pordrum proper removed from its holder, and tions of the springs 11, so that they are adapt- 8o 25 Fig. 4 is a view showing a pair of my imed to bear upon the head in rear of the ears. proved ear-drums connected by an electrical The electric conductors 15 lead from the pole attachment for increasing the sense of hear of the battery 14 to the outer or free end of the spring 11, and in one of the said conduc- Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 tors is included the switch 16. The current 3o denotes my improved ear-drum proper, flows from the battery through one of the which comprises a substantially cylindrical conductors to the spring connected thereto body 2, made, preferably, of aluminium or and through the electrode attached to the other light material and having its rear face said spring, thence through the head of the flat and its front outer face dished or conperson to the other electrode, and returns 0 through the spring 11 and conductor connect- 3 5 cave, as shown at 3, so as to collect soundwaves and direct them toward an opening 4, ed to the last-mentioned electrode to the other pole of the battery.

formed centrally in said body portion. Upon he many uses and advantages of the inthe concave or outer face 3 of the body 2 is clamped a diaphragm 5, which is preferably vention will be readily understood from the 5 foregoing description, taken in connection 40 in the form of a thin disk of hard rubber or with the accompanying drawings. It will be other suitable material adapted to receive sound-waves and transmit them through the seen that one or a pair of the ear-drums may be used without the electrical attachment opening 4. Said disk or diaphragm 5 is clamped on the edge of the body 2 by an anand that when the latter is applied to a pair IOC of the ear-drums the electric current may be 1,5 nular angle-metal rim 6, which has a screwthreaded engagement with the body 2, as used or not, as desired, by operating the switch 16. When the current is switched on,

clearly shown at 7. The opening 4 extends through a tubular extension 8, formed on the the organs of the ear will be rendered more acute or sensitive, so that they will receive 10:

rear face of the body 2 and to which is attached a short tube 9, of rubber or other fiexithe sound-waves more readily, and hence the hearing will be facilitated. It will be seen ble material, which is adapted to project into the external auditory meatus of the ear. The that the device is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, so that it may ear-drum proper of the body 2 is adapted to I be held in the concha or exterior portion of be manufactured at a small cost, and that it no is very convenient in use.

5 the ear by means of a holder 10, which is While I have shown and described the preformed, preferably, of celluloid, rubber, or

2 837,196 ferred embodiment of my invention it will cavity, the ring attached to the body, and sobe understood that I do not wish to be limitcuring the diaphragm thereon, a holder formed to fit in the coneha and in which the said body is embedded, and the inverted-U- shaped spring having one arm attached to the body, said spring extending over and inwardly from the body and holder, to adapt its inner arm to bear against the inner side of the ear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wited to the eXact construction shown, since various changes in the 'lorm,proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure b Letters Patent, 1s

The herein-described device for the purnesses. pose set forth, comprising the body having FRANK E. COULTER. the concavity in its outer side, the opening Witnesses: in its inner side, the tube extending from said opening, and a diaphragm covering said con- R. F. WILLIAMS, MAUI) LAKE NEALE. 

